BOC officially recognized as a member of FISU

The Bahamas Olympic Committee (BOC) has been recognized as an official member of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) at a meeting of the FISU governing body in Kazan, Russia, early in July.

In the FISU, the BOC will function as the National University Sports Federation of The Bahamas, which will be chaired by Wellington Miller with Romell Knowles as secretary general and will now represent all interests of FISU in The Bahamas. The National University Sports Federation of The Bahamas becomes the only body affiliated to FISU representing university sports here in The Bahamas.

BOC President Miller noted that the move would further facilitate the exposure of Bahamian university sportsmen and women in the world of international university sporting competition. BOC Secretary General Knowles said that the move will give colleges here in The Bahamas the opportunity to promote fitness, athletics and competitive sport to enhance the experience of their student body.

The College of The Bahamas already participates in university games internationally and the new federation will meet with other eligible educational facilities here in The Bahamas to encourage them to add sports to their curriculum.

FISU stages the international university games, known as “Universiade”, an international sporting and cultural festival, which is held every two years in a different city and has often been attended by national swim teams from The Bahamas. Also part of the FISU family of games is the World University Championships. Alternating with the Summer and Winter Universiades, they are organized every even-numbered year.

The last Summer Universiade was held in Kazan, Russia this year and was attended by The Bahamas’ National Swim Team. The list of sports staged in the Summer University Games includes athletics, swimming, diving, water polo, basketball, fencing, football, artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, judo, table tennis, tennis and volleyball.

The Summer Universiade is the only summer multi-sport event in the world that connects students at both academic and athletic levels over 12 days of sports competitions.

The Summer Universiade showcases more than 9,000 student-athletes and officials from over 170 countries in 13 compulsory disciplines and up to three optional sports. It is broadcasted by more than 100 TV channels.